Sir, - Without meaning in any way to trivialise the horrific discovery in Wexford, I feel it is important to note the confused language being used by those in the media whose job it is to be clear in their reporting.
The people found in the container are repeatedly being referred to as "refugees". We do not yet know if they are indeed refugees because we do not know their stories and why they left their homes.
On occasion they have been referred to as "asylum-seekers". One is not an asylum-seeker until one has lodged an application for asylum with a particular state. Unless these people had lodged an application with the Irish State on a previous occasion or else had already lodged an application with another country, they were not "asylum-seekers".
Two additional terms have been correctly used in some reports. Those terms are "illegal immigrants" and "stowaways". While the former may sound uncharitable under the circumstances, we know it to be true.
The latter carried less emotive impact and so perhaps should be the term of choice. - Yours, etc.,
C. Dowling, Inchicore, Dublin 7.